Farm irrigation wheel

Abstract

A wheel having a circular ring is provided. The circular ring has a rotational axis and an outer surface. A plurality of lugs is mounted in side-by-side positions on said outer surface of the circular ring. Each lug of the plurality of lugs has: a center rib, a first leg and a second leg, each leg extending from the center rib laterally and opposite of each other, and a lug plate adapted to connect the first leg to the center rib. The outermost point of each center rib may form a circular pattern that is coaxial with the rotational axis. The wheel may have a rim nested within said circular ring, said rim having a plurality of alternating scalloped protrusions, wherein said rim is configured to provide suitable clearance for tools during lug installation and removal while increasing the load capacity of said wheel.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A wheel comprising:
 a circular ring having:
 an outer surface; 
 a rotational axis; and 
 a plurality of through holes disposed on the outer surface that form a sinusoidal pattern around the outer surface, the sinusoidal pattern being coaxial with the rotational axis; and 
 
 a plurality of lugs mounted in side-by-side positions on said outer surface of the circular ring, each lug having:
 a center rib, a first leg and a second leg, each leg extending from the center rib laterally and opposite of each other, and a lug plate adapted to connect the first leg to the center rib; 
 
 wherein the plurality of lugs forms a circular pattern that is coaxial with the rotational axis. 
 
     
     
       2. The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein said circular pattern is a sinusoidal pattern. 
     
     
       3. The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lugs is disposed in an alternating pattern, such that the first leg of each lug is disposed between the second legs of adjacent lugs. 
     
     
       4. The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein each lug of the plurality of lugs has an overmolded layer of rubber. 
     
     
       5. The wheel of  claim 1 , further comprising a disk nested within the circular ring, said disk having a plurality of alternating scalloped portions on an outer perimeter of said disk. 
     
     
       6. The wheel of  claim 5 , wherein the scalloped portions are configured to provide clearance around each through hole of a plurality of through holes disposed on the outer surface of the ring. 
     
     
       7. A wheel comprising:
 a ring having;
 an outer surface; 
 a rotational axis; and 
 a plurality of through holes disposed on the outer surface that form a sinusoidal pattern around the outer surface, the sinusoidal pattern being coaxial with the rotational axis; and 
 
 a plurality of lugs mounted in side-by-side positions on the outer surface of the ring, 
 wherein the plurality of lugs forms a circular pattern that is coaxial with the rotational axis. 
 
     
     
       8. The wheel of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of lugs is disposed in an alternating pattern such that a first leg of each lug is disposed between second legs of adjacent lugs. 
     
     
       9. The wheel of  claim 7 , further comprising a disk associated with the plurality of lugs, said disk having a plurality of scalloped portions. 
     
     
       10. A lug for use in a wheel, the lug comprising:
 a center rib; 
 a first leg and a second leg, each leg extending from the center rib laterally and opposite of each other; and 
 a lug plate adapted to connect the first leg to the center rib; 
 wherein the lug has an overmolded layer of rubber. 
 
     
     
       11. The lug of  claim 10  further comprising a bolt hole disposed within a planar portion of first leg and a bolt hole disposed within a planar portion of the second leg. 
     
     
       12. The lug of  claim 10 , further comprising a bolt hole disposed within a center of the lug. 
     
     
       13. The lug of  claim 10 , further comprising an additional lug plate adapted to connect the second leg to the center rib. 
     
     
       14. The lug of  claim 10 , further comprising a cutout disposed within each lug plate. 
     
     
       15. The lug of  claim 10 , wherein each lug plate has a triangular cross section. 
     
     
       16. The lug of  claim 10 , wherein the first leg and second leg form a W-shape with the center rib. 
     
     
       17. The lug of  claim 10 , wherein the lug is made of rubber and reinforced by an internally disposed metal interior frame. 
     
     
       18. The lug of  claim 17 , wherein the metal interior frame is a singular, monolithic structure.